Sunday, 21 May 2017

May 31st. On Tennyson's Sands were a Spoonbill and a Mediterranean Gull. Birds around included a Greenshank, a Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo and a Hobby.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: 6 Blue Tit, a Blackcap, a Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Blue Tit.

Hobby, 31st May 2017.

Hobby, 31st May 2017.

Sedge Warbler, 31st May 2017.

May 30th. Soggy start, gradually drying out.
On Tennyson's Sands were a Spoonbill, a Great Crested Grebe and a Ruff; and on Fenland Lagoon 2 Little Ringed Plover. Around were a Short-eared Owl, 3 Cuckoo, a Turtle Dove, a Green Woodpecker (North End) and a Garden Warbler. Heading south were 3 Barnacle Goose, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, a Red Kite, a Greenshank, 32 Swift, 44 Swallow and 18 House Martin; and north 2 Gannet.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 7 new birds: 3 Linnet, a Reed Bunting and 3 Dunnock; and 5 retraps: 3 Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock.May 29th. Rainy spells in early morning and in afternoon.
The Spoonbill remained on Tennyson's Sands. Birds around included 3 Turtle Dove, 3 Cuckoo and a Short-eared Owl.

Roe Deer in West Dunes, 29th May 2017.Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Great Spotted Woodpecker at the Feeding Station, 29th May 2017.Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Turtle Dove in West Dunes, 29th May 2017.Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Short-eared Owl, 29th May 2017.Photo - Paul Neale

Short-eared Owl, 29th May 2017.Photo - Paul Neale.

May 28th. Flying south were a first-summer male Red-footed Falcon, an Alpine Swift, 31 Red Kite, 6 Common Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Hobby, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 260 Swift, 15 Swallow, 30 House Martin and a Siskin. A Black Stork circled before heading south. Around were a Short-eared Owl, a Turtle Dove and 2 Cuckoo. On Fenland Lagoon were 2 Little Ringed Plover; and on Tennyson's Sands a Spoonbill and a Great Crested Grebe.

Red Kite, 28th May 2017.Photo - James Siddle

3 Red Kites over Gibraltar Point, 28th May 2017.Photo - James Siddle

Red Kite over Old Saltmarsh, 28th May 2017.Photo - James Siddle

Young Rabbit in West Dunes, 28th May 2017.Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Red-footed Falcon, 28th May 2017.Photo - James Siddle

May 27th. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill anda Great Crested Grebe. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Short-eared Owl, a Turtle Dove (East Dunes) and 2 Cuckoo. Heading south were a Black Tern and 150 Swift.
A brief morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Whitethroat and a Cuckoo; and no retraps.

May 26th. The Spoonbill remained on Tennyson's Sands, where was also a Common Sandpiper. On Fenland Lagoon were 2 Little Ringed Plover and a Grey Plover. Around were a Turtle Dove, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Cuckoo and a Grasshopper Warbler. Going south was a Grey Wagtail.

Grey Plover (with lunch), 26th May 2017.

Grey Plover, 26th May 2017.

Selection of Butterflies around the Reserve, 26th May 2017.Photo - Philip Millns

May 25th. An adult male Red-footed Falcon drifted south early afternoon. Birds around included a Short-eared Owl, 2 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo and a Redwing. On Tennyson's Sands were a Spoonbill, a Mediterranean Gull and 2 Little Ringed Plover.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, resulted in 2 new birds: a Whitethroat and a Blackcap; and 10 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, a Dunnock, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Great Tit, a Sedge Warbler, a Blue Tit and a Reed Bunting.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling resulted in 11 new birds: 5 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler and a Dunnock; and 7 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, a Wren and a Blackbird.
A check of nest boxes revealed a Barn Owl nest with 5 warm eggs; a Stock Dove nest with 2 warm eggs: 6 Jackdaw pulli ringed; and several Great Tit nests with small pulli or sitting adults, but also several failed clutches, probably the result of recent rains.

Barn Owl, 25th May 2017.Photo - Paul Johnson

Linnet, 25th May 2017.Photo - Paul Johnson

May 24th. Around, including birds trapped. were a Mediterranean Gull, a Short-eared Owl, 5 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Turtle Dove and a Redwing. On Tennyson's Sands was a Spoonbill; and on Fenland Lagoon a Common Sandpiper.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Chaffinch, a Blackcap and a Redwing; and 4 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Willow Warbler and a Whitethroat.

Redwing, ringed 24th May 2017.Photo - George Gregory

May 23rd. Flying south in the morning were a Bee-eater, a Red Kite and a Yellow Wagtail; and north 53 Brent Goose. Birds around included 2 Brent Goose, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo and Spotted Flycatcher. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Little Ringed Plover.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Meadow Pipit; and a retrap Lesser Whitethroat.

Reed Warbler, Tennyson Sands.Photo - Paul Neale

Little Egret, Tennyson Sands.Photo - Paul Neale

Little Ringed Plover, Tennyson Sands.Photo - Paul Neale

May 22nd. Around were a Red Kite, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Cuckoo, a Turtle Dove, 2 Hobby and a Spotted Flycatcher.

The third session of CES was done this morning. The 20 new birds were a Willow Warbler, a Wren, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Robin, 3 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler and 2 Dunnock. The 17 retraps were 3 Dunnock, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, a Robin, 2 Whitethroat, a Wren, 3 Blackbird, a Chaffinch, a Song Thrush and a Sedge Warbler.

Spotted Flycatcher, 22nd May 2017.Photo - Kev Wilson

Red Kite, 22nd May 2017.Photo - Phil Hyde

Red Kite, 22nd May 2017.Photo - Phil Hyde

Short-eared Owl, 22nd May 2017.Photo - Paul Neale

Little Egret, Tennyson Sands, 22nd May 2017.Photo - Paul Neale

Common Terns, Tennyson Sands, 22nd May 2017.Photo - Paul Neale

Turtle Dove, 22nd May 2017.

May 21st. On Tennyson's Sands was a Spoonbill. Flying north were 2 more Spoonbill; and south a Hobby, 3 Swift, 12 Swallow, 5 House Martin and a Grey Wagtail. Birds around were a Marsh Harrier, 4 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 3 Cuckoo, 4 Turtle Dove, a Short-eared Owl, a Kingfisher, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded just 4 retraps: a Willow Warbler, 2 Dunnock and a Sedge Warbler.

Thursday, 11 May 2017

May 20th. Around, including birds trapped, were 80 Brent Goose, 15 Whimbrel, 65 Little Tern, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Cuckoo, a Kingfisher and 3 Spotted Flycatcher. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Little Ringed Plover. Flying south were 3 Whimbrel, a Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, 18 Swallow and 2 House Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 9 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, a Reed Bunting, a Robin and a Mistle Thrush; and 5 retraps: singles of Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit, Blue Tit, Dunnock and Great Tit.
Butterflies included 10 Green Hairstreak and a Wall Brown.

Swallow, 20th May 2017.Photo - Paul Johnson

Willow Warbler, 20th May 2017.Photo - Paul Johnson

Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 20th May 2017.Photo - George Gregory

Juvenile Robin, ringed 20th May 2017.Photo - George Gregory

Mistle Thrush, ringed 20th May 2017.Photo - George Gregory

May 19th. Rain until early afternoon.
Birds around included 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Swift, 50 Swallow, 20 House Martin and a Goldcrest. Going south were 2 Whimbrel and a Yellow Wagtail.May 18th. Soggy start, gradually drying out.
Around were 5 Whimbrel, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Cuckoo and 2 Hobby. On Fenland Lagoon was a Kingfisher. Heading south were 15 Swallow and 20 House Martin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, produced 3 new birds: a Chaffinch and 2 Blackcap; and 2 retrap Whitethroat.
Butterflies included a Painted Lady.

Hobby, 18th May 2017.Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

May 17th. Rain almost all day, making recording difficult.
The Spoonbill returned to Tennyson's Sands in the evening. Also there were a Common Sandpiper, 18 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Little Tern; and on Fenland Lagoon was a Grey Plover. Birds around included 32 Brent Goose, 8 Whimbrel, 3 Cuckoo, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Bullfinch and a House Sparrow. Going south were 5 Swift, 118 Swallow, 11 Sand Martin, 68 House Martin and a Tree Pipit; and south-south-east a female Marsh Harrier.May 16th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
On Tennyson's Sands in the evening was a Spoonbill. Around, including birds trapped, were 6 Whimbrel, a Snipe, 3 Cuckoo, 2 Rook and 2 Siskin. Flying south were 2 Hobby and 100 Swallow.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 6 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Whitethroat, a Chaffinch, 2 Swallow and a Cuckoo; and 6 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit, a Great Tit and a Sedge Warbler.

Swallow, ringed 16th May 2017.Photo - George Gregory

Cuckoo, ringed 16th May, 2017.Photo - George Gregory

Spoonbill, 16th May 2017.Photo - Richard Doan

May 15th. Some light rain late morning, then more rain in the afternoon.
On Tennyson's Sands were a Temminck's Stint and a female Wigeon. Birds around included 38 Common Scoter, 125 Little Tern, 4 Whimbrel and 3 Cuckoo. Heading south were 9 Common Scoter, an Arctic Tern, 3 Swift, 4 Sand Martin, 54 House Martin, 78 Swallow and a Tree Pipit; and west a female Bullfinch.
The second session of CES was done this morning. The 13 new birds were a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat, a Robin, 2 Blackcap, a Swallow, a Song Thrush, 2 Blackbird and 2 Mistle Thrush. The 21 retraps were 3 Dunnock, 6 Whitethroat, 2 Great Tit, a Song Thrush, a Willow Warbler, a Robin, 2 Wren, 2 Blue Tit, a Sedge Warbler, a Mistle Thrush and a Chiffchaff.

Temminck's Stint, 15th May 2017.Photo - Richard Doan

Mistle Thrush, ringed 15th May 2017.Photo - George Gregory

May 14th. Some rain early morning.
Around, including birds trapped, were a Common Sandpiper, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, a Turtle Dove, 5 Cuckoo, a Firecrest, 5 Wheatear, 3 Grasshopper Warbler and a Bullfinch. Flying north were 2 Spoonbill; and south 6 Barnacle Goose, 2 Goosander and a Peregrine.
A rain-delayed morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Firecrest, a Reed Warbler and a Chaffinch; and 2 retraps: singles of Whitethroat and Dunnock.

Grasshopper Warbler, 14th April 2017.Photo - Paul Neale

Roe Deer, 14th April 2017.Photo - Paul Neale

Firecrest, ringed 14th May 2017.Photo - George Gregory

May 13th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
In the early morning a Red-rumped Swallow went south over Jackson's Marsh, then later another Red-rumped Swallow went south over Mill Hill, then a Bee-eaterflew south over East Dunes. Also going south were 3 Barnacle Goose, 3 Marsh Harrier, 16 Whimbrel, 3 Swift, a Hobby, 200 Swallow, 50 Sand Martin, 250 House Martin, 3 Tree Pipit and 14 Yellow Wagtail. Birds around included a Turtle Dove, 3 Cuckoo, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Tree Pipit, 3 Yellow Wagtail and a Corn Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were a Ruff and 17 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Fenland Lagoon a Greenshank and a Kingfisher.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 6 Whitethroat and a Robin; and 3 retraps: a Goldfinch and 2 Sedge Warbler.May 12th. The Nightingale sang briefly in West Dunes. Around, including birds trapped, were a Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 3 Cuckoo, 3 Turtle Dove, a Short-eared Owl, a Wheatear, a Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Tree Pipit. Heading south were 3 Yellow Wagtail and 25 Swallow.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 16 new birds: a Wren, a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 3 Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting and a Turtle Dove; and 7 retraps: a Linnet, 2 Whitethroat, a Wren, a Chiffchaff and 2 Sedge Warbler.

Turtle Dove, ringed 12th May 2017.Photo - George Gregory

Turtle Dove, ringed 12th May 2017.Photo - George Gregory

May 11th. The Nightingale sang again south of Beach Car Park. Other birds around were a female Marsh Harrier, a Common Buzzard, 5 Whimbrel, a Cuckoo, 3 Swift, a Green Woodpecker, a Wheatear, a female Redstart (East Dunes), 2 female Pied Flycatcher (1 East Dunes, 1 Plantation), a Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtail and a Redpoll. On Tennyson's Sands were a male Pochard, a Ruff, a Common Tern and 3 Reed Warbler.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 4 new birds: singles of Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and a Great Tit; and no retraps.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 5 new birds: a Long-tailed Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler and a Mistle Thrush; and 9 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, a Blackbird, a Chiffchaff and a Robin.

Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve and Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory are managed and run by The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (LWT). Ringing at the Bird Observatory is carried out by LWT volunteers, whilst daily recording of birds, moths and other wildlife is carried out by LWT Wardens, the Bird Observatory Team, volunteers and visitors. Bird ringing started at Gibraltar Point in 1949 and has continued to this day, with over 200,000 new birds ringed by a large number of both local and visiting ringers. The present Group Leader (Ringer in Charge) of the Bird Observatory is George Gregory, and the Secretary is Michael Polling. This site is written by the Bird Observatory Team, and contains news of bird sightings and bird ringing, along with news of other wildlife on the reserve. Please check back regularly and we shall endeavour to keep you informed of our activities. Above all, please enjoy our Observatory Blog.